K3 Shipping Delays

[Jim Brown-10]

Much has been posted here about this topic. I've also seen (and
heard) considerable correspondence from some top operators who have
been testing pre-production K3s under some rather torturous contest
and QRN conditions. Although I'm not privy to internal communications
at Elecraft, I'd bet that this testing has caused some of the fine
points of the design to be tweaked. I'd also bet that like any other
manufacturer, Elecraft is experiencing delays on deliveries of
critical parts.  

So, while we're anxious to see the finished product on our operating
bench, the second sort of delays are to be expected from any mfr who
is reasonably picky about what parts they buy and where they buy
them, and the first sort of delays will result in a better radio. So
cool your jets, and give Wayne and Eric the breathing space to do
their jobs. They have a long history of doing that very well.

73,

Jim Brown K9YC


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[Brett gazdzinski-2]

 
On the other hand, you can keep on improving almost anything
indefinitely.

I myself figure another month, that way, if it arrives before that
I will be real happy.

Lots of work for those Elecraft folks, the amplifier,
the panadaptor, the remote K3 antenna tuner, the K4, etc....

I think they been goofing off, sleeping and eating even!

Brett
N2DTS


 

> Much has been posted here about this topic. I've also seen (and
> heard) considerable correspondence from some top operators who have
> been testing pre-production K3s under some rather torturous contest
> and QRN conditions. Although I'm not privy to internal communications
> at Elecraft, I'd bet that this testing has caused some of the fine
> points of the design to be tweaked. I'd also bet that like any other
> manufacturer, Elecraft is experiencing delays on deliveries of
> critical parts.  
>
> So, while we're anxious to see the finished product on our operating
> bench, the second sort of delays are to be expected from any mfr who
> is reasonably picky about what parts they buy and where they buy
> them, and the first sort of delays will result in a better radio. So
> cool your jets, and give Wayne and Eric the breathing space to do
> their jobs. They have a long history of doing that very well.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim Brown K9YC
>>

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[N6TR]

On Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 11:39:58AM -0700, Jim Brown wrote:

> So, while we're anxious to see the finished product on our operating
> bench, the second sort of delays are to be expected from any mfr who
> is reasonably picky about what parts they buy and where they buy
> them, and the first sort of delays will result in a better radio. So
> cool your jets, and give Wayne and Eric the breathing space to do
> their jobs. They have a long history of doing that very well.

It isn't my place to add much data to this, but I think I can make a couple
of general observations.

I have used this radio now for some 7 weeks now.  I didn't even open it
up for the first few weeks and thus far have added one component to a
board.  The stability of the hardware is fantastic.  This is the main
gate I would think to starting shipping.  I believe that mostly it is
logistics of getting the first batch all built - integrated and tested.

That's a lot of radios to ship at once.  

There will continue to be lots of work to do with the firmware.  There
are two different firmware programs - the MCU, which is what controls
everything except the DSP firmware.  These are split up between two
different people and there are already a number of "nice to have"
features that have been judged to be something that can wait until after
"FCS" (first customer ship).  

So - your K3 will continue to improve after you get it...  but what you
get out of the box will be better than you probably expected.

Why - just this weekend, my DSP noise blanker was totally redesigned and
really works well on the electric fence noise. :-)  Yours will work this
well out of the box.

Hope this helps - I can't answer when - but just that the hardware is
stable and I believe the "right" decisions are being made - and no, they
aren't waiting until every last feature is included in the firmware -
since that can be updated after you get your radio.

73 Tree N6TR
K2 S/N 2411
K3 S/N 00000000013 (I think - still no label)
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[k4tmc]

Re the K4.  Didn't Wayne or Eric just have a new child?  I believe it
was named "K4 Serial Number 00001" :-)

I guess I will not be showing a K3 at the Shelby NC Hamfest - my K3 has
not arrived yet...

73,
Henry - K4TMC

-----Original Message-----
From: Brett gazdzinski <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 2:48 pm
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Shipping Delays











On the other hand, you can keep on improving almost anything
indefinitely.

I myself figure another month, that way, if it arrives before that
I will be real happy.

Lots of work for those Elecraft folks, the amplifier,
the panadaptor, the remote K3 antenna tuner, the K4, etc....

I think they been goofing off, sleeping and eating even!

Brett
N2DTS

> Much has been posted here about this topic. I've also seen (and
> heard) considerable correspondence from some top operators who have
> been testing pre-production K3s under some rather torturous contest
> and QRN conditions. Although I'm not privy to internal communications
> at Elecraft, I'd bet that this testing has caused some of the fine
> points of the design to be tweaked. I'd also bet that like any other
> manufacturer, Elecraft is experiencing delays on deliveries of
> critical parts.
>
> So, while we're anxious to see the finished product on our operating
> bench, the second sort of delays are to be expected from any mfr who
> is reasonably picky about what parts they buy and where they buy
> them, and the first sort of delays will result in a better radio. So
> cool your jets, and give Wayne and Eric the breathing space to do
> their jobs. They have a long history of doing that very well.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim Brown K9YC
>>

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